PayPal logo

PayPal Review

4.3(21,200)Starting at CustomAPI
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Verdict: PayPal earns 4.3/5 from 21,200 reviews, ranking #4 of 5 payment gateways we track. It suits Stores wanting buyer trust best. Massive brand trust is its standout strength, while higher fees is the main trade-off to weigh.

Our take on PayPal

PayPal is the most widely trusted consumer payment brand, offering instant buyer recognition, Pay-in-4, and easy setup. Great for conversion, though fees run higher.

Key features

  • PayPal & Venmo checkout
  • Pay Later (BNPL)
  • Buyer & seller protection
  • Invoicing
  • Global currencies

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Massive brand trust
  • Boosts conversion
  • Easy setup

Cons

  • Higher fees
  • Account holds can be frustrating

Who PayPal is for

A good fit if…

  • • You are stores wanting buyer trust.
  • • Your use case is boosting checkout trust.
  • • Your use case is small stores.
  • • Your use case is invoicing clients.
  • Massive brand trust matters to you.

Look elsewhere if…

  • Higher fees would be a dealbreaker.
  • Account holds can be frustrating would be a dealbreaker.
PlanPricePer year
StandardPopularCustom
AdvancedCustom

How PayPal compares

MeasurePayPalCategory average
Rating4.3/54.5/5
Starting priceCustom
Rank by rating#4 of 5
Public APIYes4 of 4 offer one

Integrations

ShopifyWooCommerceBigCommerceWixQuickBooks

Alternatives to consider

All PayPal alternatives →
Stripe logo
Stripe

Developer-first payments infrastructure

4.6/5 · from Custom
Compare →
Square logo
Square

Unified online + in-person payments

4.5/5 · from Free
Compare →
Adyen logo
Adyen

Enterprise global payments platform

4.5/5 · from Custom
Compare →
Braintree logo
Braintree

PayPal-owned gateway for growing platforms

4.3/5 · from Custom
Compare →

Bottom line on PayPal

4.3/5 · Paid · best for Stores wanting buyer trust

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Frequently asked questions

Is PayPal worth it?+

PayPal is rated 4.3/5 across 21,200 reviews and is best suited to Stores wanting buyer trust. Massive brand trust is the standout strength; the main trade-off is higher fees.

What do users like most about PayPal?+

Massive brand trust, Boosts conversion, Easy setup.

What are the downsides of PayPal?+

Higher fees, Account holds can be frustrating. Whether these matter depends on your use case — see who it is and isn't for above.

How much does PayPal cost?+

PayPal uses custom, quote-based pricing. Contact their sales team for a quote.

How does PayPal compare with other payment gateways?+

Among the 5 payment gateways we track, PayPal ranks #4 by rating (4.3/5 vs a 4.5/5 category average).

What is PayPal best used for?+

Boosting checkout trust, Small stores, Invoicing clients.